Thankfully, the production locates a pulse for the conclusion, paying off the creatures' ravenous appetites with a satisfactory domestic rampage. As a group of campers enjoy the great outdoors, a meteorite careens down from space and heads right toward the planet’s surface.

It's a shame the footage is so limited, as this collection of random moments truly underscores the backstage effort. Instead, it’s a hospital under siege by a larval insect monster that bursts forth from a patient and goes on an infectious rampage. Maybe it has something to do with a lack of practical makeup in most modern horror films, at least those of a mid-range budget. Again, though, the real star is the slimy, gross-out ticks, in over-the-top practical effects-driven glory. Fortunately, my re-examination of the gory 1983 sci-fi/horror oddity The Deadly Spawn was not one of those movies that lost its appeal.Bohus and editor Marc Harwood is a jovial conversation between the professionals, who reflect fondly on their "Deadly Spawn" experience, cheering on the film's shortcomings. With Hellbound: Hellraiser’s Tony Randel in the director’s seat and Brian Yuzna attached as executive producer, you know to expect something icky, oozy, and fantastical.

At a medical school, Professor Sorenson (Roddy McDowell) experiments with a drug meant to reduce aggression in animals. What goes around always seems to come around again, and it may not be long before we find ourselves watching strange creatures from beyond the stars wreak havoc on small, unassuming towns. After the “camper” appetizer, the alien spawn take refuge in the basement of an isolated house and prepare for the main course!As expected, a lot of these low rent movies turn out to be pure shit, but sometimes a golden nugget is excreted and without a doubt, The Deadly Spawn is one of the success stories. If you’re in the mood for zany, giant insectoid B-movie entertainment, well, this one delivers the goods. I admit I have a soft spot for this one, not just for being one of the rare evil djinn movies that go full-blown creature feature, but also for being set in my hometown. The aforementioned scene of study between Charles and Uncle Herb is a significant example of a tepid idea for characterization dragged out to a point of screen death.

I can’t find it, but on “X” a week or two ago, Don May responded to someone asking about Deadly Spawn. There are horror movies about aliens, every now and then, but in recent years they have all played out like History Channel specials—only somehow less effective. No stranger to the digital era of home video, The Deadly Spawn received an excellent release in 2004 by Synapse Films. For more about The Deadly Spawn and the The Deadly Spawn Blu-ray release, see the The Deadly Spawn Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on February 15, 2012 where this Blu-ray release scored 2.Alternate Opening (4:43, SD) offers little to no discernible changes from the theatrical cut outside of a different opening title sequence.